Printing hammers for printing devices for weighing scales



Jan. 5, 1960 c. E. ROESSLER, JR 2,919,644

PRINTING HAMMERS FOR PRINTING DEVICES FOR WEIGHING SCALES Filed NOV. 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1960 c. E. ROESSLER,-JR 2,919,644

PRINTING HAMMERS FOR PRINTING DEVICES FOR WEIGHING SCALES Filed NOV; 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO R ddjzsiiaessfez'fir United States Patent" 2,919,644 Patented Jan. 5, 1960 ice PRINTING HAMMERS FOR PRINTING DEVICES FOR WEIGHING SCALES Charles E. Roessler, In, Rutland, Vt., assignor to The Howe Scale Company, Rutland, Vt., a corporation of Delaware Application November 4, 1957, Serial No. 694,399

10 Claims. (Cl. 101-297) .wheels or type segments respectively oriented to position appropriate digits at the print point. The aligned'digits at the print point are used to print and make a record of the attained weight thus indicated. The printed record may be part of one or more webs of paper fed across the print point, or may be on inserted and removed cards, with or without additional recordations. The printing is usually accomplished by assembling paper, carbon paper, typewriter ribbons and the like in superposed relation at the print point, then striking these assembled materials with a hammer against the positioned type as an anvil. For accuracy in printing the hammer face must be positioned relative to the instantaneously aligned digits of the type segments so as to be parallel therewith at the instant of printing. Despite care, with ordinary tolerances the printing ham mer may be out of parallelism with the aligned digits so that the impact force is improperly distributed thereover, or it may be of improper mass or may travel with improper velocity for the number of type segments or the thickness of the paper or cards it is to engage, for proper printing.

It is among the objects of this invention: to improve the art of printing as used in weighing scales; to provide in a printing organization for weighing scales an improved printing hammer by which the impact face can be adjusted for parallelism with plural type segments at -a printing point; to provide a printing hammer for weighing scales in which the impact force can be predeterminedly adjusted; and many other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this description:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation, partially in fragmentary section, of the printing hammer of the invention in its relation to the various feed and take-up rollers associated with printing the weight record of the associated weighing scale.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary plan of the printing organization below the type segments (omitted for clarity), showing some of the feed and related rollers.

Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the printing hammer of this invention, partially broken away to show one of the level or tilt adjusting screws.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse section through the hammer of Fig. 3, taken on line 4-4 of that figure, showing the central fulcrum screw in its relation to the hammer organization, and the resilient mount for the hammer.

Fig. 5 represents a vertical transverse section through the hammer organization of Fig. 3, taken on line 5-5 thereof, and illustrating the mounting of an auxiliary weight thereto.

"Fig. 6 represents a fragmentaryelevation of'an -'illustrative weight of a series of various weights that can be added to the hammer as disclosed in assembly .in Fig. 5.

It will be understood that mechanism will be provided in the weighing scale organization (not shown but conventional), which in response to weight applied to the scale moves or positions respective type segments 10 of a pluraility of the latter to position selected type digits of the respective segments of the plurality in vertical alignment with print point 9. While only one type segment is disclosed in Fig. 1, there may be any desired number thereof according to the capacity of the scale, and the others will be understood to lie behind the segment illustrated in Fig. l, with their respective selected digits in alignment normal to the drawing in Fig. l at print point or transverse line 9. It will be understood that each of the respective type segments is automatically positioned so as to juxtapose a given appropriate type numeral to print point 9 and to the arcuate path of the hammer to be described. It will also be understood that in synchronism with the setting of respective type segments as weight is applied, a print cam 11 and shaft 12 on which it is mounted will have progressed through a complete cycle.

Linkage is provided for synchronously advancing the paper feed then holding the paper stationary during the actuation of the printing hammer. The linkage for the printing hammer will first be described. At the attainment of the printing point in the cycle of rotation of shaft 12 and cam 11, the bell crank lever 13, pivoted at 8 to a frame member at one end drops off cam 11, anchored to shaft 12, under the bias of the spring 14, anchored to a frame member 19 (Fig. 2), and its short arm 15 kicks link 16 forwardly with the supporting pivoted link 17 and the supporting pivoted bell crank lever 13. Supporting link 17 is pivoted to the frame member 29 at 21, and supporting bell crank lever 18 .is pivoted to the frame member 20 at 22. Bell crank lever i8 is the mounting element for the hammer to be described and throws same arcuately upwardly across print point line 9.

A paper feed organization is preferably incorporated with the printing mechanism and is operated in synchronism therewith. A rear horizontal slotted plate or guide is provided as at 44 on one side of the print point 9, and forwardly thereof a plate 7 is mounted in a horizontal spaced continuation of the slotted guide plate 44. A rubber or like coated feed roll 23 is journalled for rotation on the frame members, and at one end is fixed to a pulley 24 and a ratchet wheel 25, having peripheral teeth 25'. The pulley 24 mounts a tensioned belt 26 in driving relation to a pulley 27 on the shaft of take-up spool 30, also journalled on the frame members. Adjacent to a side frame member 20 a resilient pawl 31 is mounted rigidly on a pivoted lever 32 at one end, the free forward dog end of which is bent into a hook 31, and is so organized as with counter-clockwise motion of the lever 32 to slide over a tooth or teeth 25 of the ratchet wheel, in one direction of reciprocation of the pawl, and to engage behind a tooth and advance the ratchet wheel and thus the feed roll 23, and the associated driven parts one or more teeth in a clockwise motion of the lever 32 in the other direction of reciprocation of the pawl 31. Lever 32 is moved clockwise in response to force from a push rod 35 engaging the lever 32 by pin 34. Push rod 35 is supported by a lever link 36 pivoted to the frame at 37 and pivotally connected to the push rod at 38. The opposite end of the push rod 35 mounts a roller 39 in constant contact with the periphery of the the paper advance cam 40mounted on the shaft'12. Engagement between the roller 39 and the cam 40, and consequent retraction of the push rod and counter-clockwise motion of the lever 32 and resetting of the pawl on the ratchet wheel is effected by a spring 41 extending between the push rod and the frame.

Preferably in the double tape type of organization, by which permanent records of successive weighs are recorded and retained, a paper supply roll 42 is journalled on the frame members, and the paper web 4-3 passing therefrom passes over a guide roll 44, through the slotted guide 44, across the print space 9, over feed roll 23, between the latter and the horizontal plate 7, then downwardly between the feed roll 2-3 and the idler roller 23', to wound storage on the take-up spool 39. A second tape roll is provided by the spool 4e, journalled on the frame, the web 47 of which passes over guide roller 48 and then in superposed relation to the web 43 over guide roll 44', and forwardly over feed roll 23 and over idler roller 23 under the plate 7, to discard or removal just beyond the idler roller 23'. For double tape purposes it is preferred that one of the tapes be coated on one side with carbon. Typewriter ribbons (not shown), pass between the respective type segments and the upper tape being fed, for recording the indicated weight in response to the hammer blow by the hammer about to be described.

The hammer 49 of the invention, which may be provided in duplicate where the number of type segments used may so require, comprises a trough-like base member 59, having upwardly extending parallel front and rear walls 51 and 52, The base member 56 has, preferably, three vertical apertures respectively 53, 54, and 55, the axes of which are parallel to and between the respective front and rear walls, and are in alignment transverse of the apertures and longitudinally of the base member. The transverse portion 59 of the base member 50, mounting the walls 51 and 52, is provided with a transverse slot 56 in which the free outer end of the mount for the hammer, illustratively comprised of the leaf spring unit 57, is rigidly attached. The mount may comprise a single leaf spring for a light hammer blow, or it may be provided with one or more supplemental stiffening leaf springs 58 superimposed on leaf spring 57, for heavier hammer blows of greater impact value.

It may be noted of the apertures in the transverse base portion 59, that the end apertures 53 and 55 are tilting apertures and are preferably not internally tapped, so that a small clearance will exist between these apertures and the screws or pins to pass therethrough, to be described. On the other hand the central fulcrum aperture 54 is internally threaded.

The impact face hammer portion of the assembly 49, comprises a lower generally rectangular block portion 62, slidably received between the walls 51 and 52, and provided on its lower surface with a pair of spaced internally threaded apertures 63 and 64, of such disposition as to be respectively alignable with the respective apertures 53 and 55. The upper end block portion 62 terminates in a flat surface 65 defined between parallel front and rear short flanges 66, 66. A platen or impact face block as 67, is anchored to the fiat surface 65 as by cement or the like and is held against shifting by the flanges 66, 66. The material and nature of the impact face block will be selected in accordance with the degree of impact force to be derived from the hammer. For a heavy impact, for instance, it may be of substantially solid rubber, at least on the direct impact face thereof, while being backed by softer or more absorbent material.

A pair of anchoring pins or screws 70, 70 is provided, for attaching a selected weight element 71 to one end of the hammer. Illustratively it is attached to the front end thereof, as shown. The weight 71 which is preferably a relatively thin rectangular element, has a pair of spaced vertical slots or recesses 72. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 5, apertures 60 are formed in spacing collars or washers 78 mounted in suitable slots 79 formed in walls 51 and 52, the apertures 60 being of larger diameter than pins '70, and threaded apertures 69 are formed in block portion 62 to receive the threaded ends of pins 7b. In this embodiment, collars 78 are preferably slightly thicker than the walls to avoid friction between the weight and the adjacent wall when block portion 62. is adiusted between walls 51 and 52, or when Weights are removed or inserted.

While the same result can be achieved by the provision of a fulcrum excrescence on the upper surface of the base transverse portion 55, or the lower surface of the block portion 62 may mount an excrescence to bear against the transverse portion 59 of the base element, it it presently preferred that a fulcrum pin or screw 74 is threaded to threadably engage the threaded aperture 54, and has a fulcrum end 75 engaging against the lower surface of the block element 62 as a point about which the block portion can be tilted, within relatively narrow limits. To complete the tilting assembly, a pair of pins or screws 76 and 77 are provided, threaded to pass freely through the respective unthreaded apertures 53 and 55, to engagement in the respectively threaded apertures 63 and 64.

In assembling and adjusting the hammer organization in the scale system, the weight or mass, the angle of the impact head, the stiffness or resilience of the hammer supporting spring unit, are all pre-selected in accordance with the necessities of the instant scale and the recording elements. The hammer is aligned with the plural type wheels into parallelism therewith by relatively adjusting screws 76, 77 until the impact face is exactly parallel with the horizontally aligned digits on the respective type segments at the printing point. With this and the related adjustments even and accurate printing is established.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a weighing scale having aligned type segments positioned at a print point by a weighing mechanism, a printing device comprising, in combination, a frame, supply means mounted in said frame for supporting at least one strip of recording tape, guiding means for leading said strip past said print point, an inked ribbon, means positioning said inked ribbon between said type segments and said strip, a flexible leaf spring arm having a fixed end pivotally mounted on said frame and a free end, a printing hammer head mounted on said free end of said arm, and actuating linkage for moving said strip past said print point and for actuating said pivotally mounted leaf spring arm, whereby said hammer head is forcibly impelled toward said print point to impress said strip and said inked ribbon against said type segments to print an inked impression upon said strip, said hammer head comprising a block portion and a base portion, said base portion being joined to said free end of said leaf spring arm, and said block portion being adjustably secured to said base portion.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said printing hammer head is provided with a weight having a preselected mass removably joined to said hammer head.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said leaf spring arm includes a plurality of individual leaf spring elements, said plurality being preselected to pro vide the desired inked impression on said strip.

4. In a weighing scale having aligned type segments positioned at a print point by a weighing mechanism, a weight printing device comprising, in combination, a frame, supply reels rotatably mounted in said frame for supporting in rolled condition a first strip recording tape having a back face with a transferable coating thereon and a second strip of recording paper, guiding means for leading said strips in unrolled and juxtaposed relationship past said print point with said transferable coating adjacent to said second strip, an inked ribbon, means positioning said inked ribbon between said type segments and said first of said juxtaposed strips, a flexible leaf spring arm having a fixed end pivotally mounted in said frame and a free end, a printing hammer head mounted on said free end of said arm, and actuating linkage for intermittently moving said juxtaposed strips past said print point and for actuating said pivotally mounted leaf spring arm, whereby said hammer head is forcibly impelled toward said print point to impress said juxtaposed strips and inked ribbon against said type segments to record a weight on said strips, said hammer head comprising a rocking block portion and a base portion, said base portion being joined to said free end of said leaf spring arm, and said block portion being adjustably secured to said base portion.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said hammer head is provided with a weight having a preselected mass removably joined to said hammer head.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said leaf spring arm includes a plurality of individual leaf spring elements, said plurality being preselected to provide the desired inked impression on said strip.

7. In a weighing scale having a weight recording mechanism including type segments and a recording tape adjacently disposed at a print point, a printing hammer for impressing said tape upon said type segments comprising, in combination, a flexible leaf spring arm having a fixed end pivotally mounted on said mechanism and a free end, and a hammer head mounted on said free end, said hammer head having a base portion fixedly joined to said free end of said leaf spring arm and a platen 30 block portion adjustably and tiltably secured to said base portion, whereby said platen block portion may be adjustably aligned for substantially uniform impact throughout its width, providing substantially uniform 6 impressions of all of said type segments upon said tape.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said platen block portion of said hammer head is laterally tiltable with respect to said base portion about a central fulcrum point and is provided with threaded apertures opening toward said base portion flanking said fulcrum point, and in which adjustment screws pass through cor responding enlarged apertures in said base portion to engage said threaded apertures in said platen block portion, whereby said platen block portion is adjustable in any preselected tilted position.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said platen block portion of said hammer head includes means forming a threaded aperture, a removable weight element of preselected mass having a corresponding enlarged aperture therein, and a screw passing through said enlarged aperture and engaging said threaded aperture, whereby the total mass of said hammer head may be adjusted to provide the desired impression of said type segments upon said tape.

10. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said flexible leaf spring arm includes a plurality of individual leaf spring elements, said plurality being preselected to provide the desired impression of said type segments upon said tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,367 Transue Oct. 10, 1911 1,151,963 Ocumpaugh Aug. 31, 1915 2,742,532 Durkee Apr. 17, 1956 

